Is social support good for the health of mothers and babies?

References

• Adams , S. O. , Barr , G. D. and Huenemann , R. L. 1978 . ‘Effects of nutritional supplementation in pregnancy’ . Journal of the Dietary Association , 72 : 144
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Anderson , A. and Turnbull , A. 1982 . “ ‘Effect of oestrogens, progestogens and betamimetics in pregnancy’ ” . In Effectiveness and Satisfaction in Antenatal Care , Edited by: Enkin , M. and Chalmers , I. p. 163 London : Spastics International Medical Publications .
   Google Scholar
• Berkman , L. F. 1984 . ‘Assessing the physical health effects of social networks and social support’ . American Journal of Public Health , 5 : 413 – 432 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Berkman , L. F. and Breslow , L. 1983 . Health and Ways of Living: Findings from the Alameda County Study , New York : Oxford University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Berkowitz , G. D. and Kasl , S. V. 1983 . ‘The role of psychosocial factors in spontaneous preterm delivery’ . Journal of Psychosomatic Research , 27 ( 4 ) : 283
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Blondel , J. 1729 . The Power of the Mother's Imagination over the Foetus Examin'd London
   Google Scholar
• Brant , H. A. 1962 . ‘Childbirth with preparation and support in labour: an assessment’ . New Zealand Medical Journal , 61 : 211
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Broadhead , W. E. , Kaplan , B. H. , James , S. A. , Wagner , E. H. , Shroenbach , V. J. , Grimson , R. , Heydon , S. , Tibblin , G. and Grehlbach , S. H. 1983 . ‘The epidemiological evidence for a relationship between social support and health’ . American Journal of Epidemiology , 117 : 521 – 537 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brody , H. 1980 . Placebos and the Philosophy of Medicine: Clinical, Conceptual and Ethical Issues , University of Chicago Press .
   Google Scholar
• Brown , G. W. and Harris , T. 1978 . Social Origins of Depression , London : Tavistock .
   Google Scholar
• Campbell Brown , D. M. 1983 . “ ‘Protein energy supplements in primagravid women at risk of low birthweight’ ” . In Nutrition in Pregnancy , Edited by: Campbell , D. M. and Gillmer , M. D. G. London : RCOG .
   Google Scholar
• Capra , F. 1983 . The Turning Point , New York : Bantam .
   Google Scholar
• Carpenter , J. , Aldrich , K. and Borerman , H. 1968 . ‘The effectiveness of patient interviews: a controlled study of emotional support during pregnancy’ . Archives of General Psychiatry , 19 : 110 – 112 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chamberlain , G. , Philipp , E. , Howlett , B. and Masters , K. 1978 . British Births 1970 , London : Heinemann .
   Google Scholar
• Cobb , S. 1976 . ‘Social support as a moderator of life stress’ . Psychosomatic Medicine , 38 : 300
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cohen , S. and Wills , T. A. 1985 . ‘Stress, social support and the buffering hypothesis’ . Psychological Bulletin , 98 ( 2 ) : 310 – 357 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Durkheim , E. 1951 . Suicide , New York : Free Press .
   Google Scholar
• Eckenrode , J. 1983 . ‘The mobilization of social supports: some individual constraints’ . American Journal of Community Psychology , 11 ( 5 ) : 509 – 528 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Elton , P. J. 1985 . ‘Outcome of pregnancy among prisoners’ . Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 5 : 241 – 244 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fish , J. M. 1973 . Placebo Therapy , San Francisco : Jossey-Bass .
   Google Scholar
• Gordon , R. E. and Gordon , K. K. 1960 . ‘Social factors in prevention of postpartum emotional problems’ . Obstetrics & Gynaecology , 15 : 433 – 438 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gottlieb , B. H. 1978 . ‘The development and application of a classification system of informal helping behaviours’ . Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science , 10 : 105 – 115 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Grant , A. , Chalmers , I. and Enkin , M. 1982 . “ ‘Physical interventions intended to prolong pregnancy and increase fetal growth’ ” . In Effectiveness and Satisfaction in Antenatal Care , Edited by: Enkin , M. and Chalmers , I. p. 198 London : Spastics International Medical Publications .
   Google Scholar
• Grant , A. and Mohide , P. 1982 . “ ‘Screening and diagnostic tests in antenatal care’. ” . In Effectiveness and Satisfaction in Antenatal Care , Edited by: Enkin , M. and Chalmers , I. London : Spastics International Medical Publications .
   Google Scholar
• Gutelius , M. F. , Kirsch , A. D. and Macdonald , S. 1977 . ‘Controlled study of child health supervision: behavioural results’ . Pediatrics , 60 ( 3 ) : 294 – 304 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Haggerty , R. J. 1980 . ‘Damn the simplicities’ . Pediatrics , 66 ( 2 ) : 323 – 4 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Harrison , G. A. and Jenner , D. A. 1985 . ‘Urinary hormones and the measurement of comparative population health and well-being’ Paper given at Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Symposium No. 98, Sante Fe, New Mexico, October 1985
   Google Scholar
• Hemminki , E. and Starfield , B. 1978 . ‘Prevention and treatment of premature labour by drugs: review of controlled clinical trials’ . British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 85 : 411
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Henderson , S. , Byrne , D. G. and Duncan-Jones , P. 1981 . Neurosis and the Social Environment , Sydney : Academic Press .
   Google Scholar
• Herron , M. A. , Katz , M. and Creasy , R. K. 1982 . ‘Evaluation of a preterm birth prevention program|Ampreliminary report’ . Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 59 : 452
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Houd , S. and Oakley , A. 1983 . “ ‘Alternative perinatal services’ ” . In Perinatal Health Services in Europe , Edited by: Phaff , J. M. L. p. 17 London : Croom Helm .
   Google Scholar
• House , J. S. and Kahn , R. L. 1985 . “ ‘Measures and concepts of social support’ ” . In Social Support and Health , Edited by: Cohen , S. and Syme , S. L. London : Academic Press .
   Google Scholar
• Illsley , R. and Mitchell , R. G. 1984 . Low Birthweight: a Medical, Psychological and Social Study , Chichester : Wiley .
   Google Scholar
• Institute of Medicine . 1985 . Preventing Low Birthweight , Washington, DC : National Academy Press .
   Google Scholar
• Kehrer , B. H. and Wohin , C. M. 1979 . ‘Impact of income maintenance on low birthweight: evidence from the Gary experiment’ . Journal of Human Resources , 14 : 434
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Klaus , M. H. , Kennell , J. H. , Robertson , S. S. and Sosa , R. 1986 . ‘Effects of social support during parturition on maternal and infant morbidity’ . British Medical Journal , 6 September : 585 – 587 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Leavy , R. L. 1983 . ‘Social support and psychological disorder: a review’ . Journal of Community Psychology , 11 : 3 – 21 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lederman , R. P. , Lederman , E. , Work , B. A. and McCann , D. S. 1978 . ‘The relationship of maternal anxiety, plasma catecholamines and plasma cortisol to progress in labour’ . American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 132 : 495 – 500 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lederman , R. P. , McCann , D. S. , Work , B. A. and Huber , M. J. 1977 . ‘Endogenous plasma epinephrine and nor-epinephrine in last-trimester pregnancy and labor’ . American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 129 : 5 – 8 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Macfarlane , A. and Mugford , M. 1984 . Birth Counts: Statistics of Pregnancy and Childbirth , London : HMSO .
   Google Scholar
• Madge , N. and Marmot , M. 1987 . ‘Psychosocial factors and health’ . The Quarterly Journal of Social Affairs , 3 ( 2 ) : 81 – 134 .
   Google Scholar
• Marmot , M. G. and McDowell , M. E. 1986 . ‘Mortality decline and widening social inequalities’ . Lancet , 2 August : 274 – 276 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Meyer , R. J. and Haggerty , R. J. 1962 . ‘Streptoccocal infections in families’ . Pediatrics , 29 : 539 – 549 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mora , J. O. , de Paredes , B. , Wagner , M. , de Navarro , L. , Suescun , J. , Christiansen , N. and Herrera , M. G. 1979 . ‘Nutritional supplementation and the outcome of pregnancy’ . The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , 32 : 455 – 462 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Myers , R. E. 1977 . “ ‘Experimental models of perinatal brain damage: relevance to human pathology’ ” . In Intrauterine Asphyxia and the Developing Fetal Brain , Edited by: Gluck . Year Book Medical Publishers .
   Google Scholar
• Myers , R. E. and Myers , S. E. 1979 . “ ‘Maternal anxiety and fetal death’ ” . In Psychoneuroendocrinology in Reproduction , Edited by: Zichella and Pancheri . Elsevier, North Holland .
   Google Scholar
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit/World Health Organisation . 1986 . A Classified Bibliography of Controlled Trials in Perinatal Medicine 1940–1984 , Oxford Medical Publications, Oxford University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Nelson , N. , Enkin , M. , Saigal , S. , Bennett , K. J. , Milner , R. and Sackett , D. L. 1980 . ‘A randomised clinical trial of the Leboyer approach to childbirth’ . New England Journal of Medicine , 302 : 655 – 660 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nerem , R. M. 1980 . ‘Social environment as a factor in diet-induced atherosclerosis’ . Science , 208 : 1475 – 1476 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Newton , R. A. and Hunt , L. P. 1984 . ‘Psychosocial stress in pregnancy and its relation to low birthweight’ . British Medical Journal , 288 : 1191
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Newton , R. W. , Webster , P. A. L. , Binn , P. S. , Maskrey , N. and Phillips , A. B. 1979 . ‘Psychosocial stress in pregnancy and its relation to the onset of premature labour’ . British Medical Journal , 2 : 411 – 413 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Norbeck , J. S. and Tilden , V. P. 1983 . ‘Life stress, social support and emotional disequilibrium in complications of pregnancy: a prospective multivariate study’ . Journal of Health and Social Behaviour , 24 ( 1 ) : 30
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nuckolls , K. B. , Cassel , J. and Kaplan , J. H. 1972 . ‘Psychosocial assets, life crises and the prognosis of pregnancy’ . American Journal of Epidemiology , 95 : 431
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Oakley , A. , Chalmers , I. and Elbourne , D. 1986 . “ ‘The effects of social interventions in pregnancy’ ” . In Prevention of Preterm Birth: New Goals and New Practices in Prenatal Care , Edited by: Papiernik , E. , Bréart , C. and Spira , N. Paris : Inserm .
   Google Scholar
• Oakley , A. and Elbourne , D. “ ‘The effects of social interventions in pregnancy’ ” . In Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth , Edited by: Enkin , M. , Chalmers , I. and Kierse , M. Oxford University Press . (submitted for publication)
   Google Scholar
• Oakley , A. , Macfarlane , A. and Chalmers , I. 1982 . “ ‘Social class, stress and reproduction’ ” . In Disease and the Environment , Edited by: Rees , R. A. and Purcell , H. Chichester : Wiley .
   Google Scholar
• Office of Population Censuses and Surveys . 1986 . ‘Birthweight statistics’ . Monitor , 21 October
   Google Scholar
• Office of Population Censuses and Surveys . 1987 . ‘Infant and perinatal mortality 1985: birthweight’ . Monitor , 3 February
   Google Scholar
• Olds , D. L. , Henderson , C. R. , Tatelbaum , R. and Chamberlain , R. 1986 . ‘Improving the delivery of prenatal care and outcomes of pregnancy: a randomised trial of nurse-home visitation’ . Pediatrics , 77 ( 1 ) : 16 – 28 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pollitt , E. and Mueller , W. 1982 . Maternal nutrition supplementation during pregnancy interferes with physical resemblance of siblings at birth according to infant sex’ . Early Human Development , 7 : 251 – 256 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Runnerstrom , L. R. 1969 . ‘The effectiveness of nurse-midwifery in a supervised hospital environment’ . American College of Nurse Midwives Bulletin , 14 : 40
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Rush , D. 1983 . “ ‘Effects of changes in protein and calorie intake during pregnancy on the fetus and developing child’ ” . In Nutrition in Pregnancy , Edited by: Campbell , D. M. and Gillmer , M. D. G. London : RCOG .
   Google Scholar
• Saunders , M. C. , Dick , J. S. , Brown , I. McL. , McPherson , K. and Chalmers , I. 1985 . ‘The effects of hospital admission for bedrest on the duration of twin pregnancy: a randomised trial’ . Lancet , 12 October : 793 – 795 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schwartz , D. , Flamant , R. and Lellouch , J. 1980 . Clinical Trials , London : Academic Press .
   Google Scholar
• Slome , C. , Wetherbee , H. , Daly , M. , Christenseu , K. , Meglen , M. and Thiede , H. 1976 . ‘Effectiveness of certified nurse-midwives’ . American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , : 177
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Smilkstein , G. , Helsper-Lucas , A. , Ashworth , C. , Montano , D. and Pagel , M. 1984 . ‘Prediction of pregnancy complications: an application of the bio psychosocial model’ . Social Science and Medicine , 18 ( 4 ) : 315 – 321 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Social Services Committee . 1980 . Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality , London : HMSO .
   Google Scholar
• Sokol , R. J. , Woolf , R. B. , Rosen , M. G. and Weingarden , K. 1980 . ‘Risk, antepartum care and outcome: impact of a maternity and infant care project’ . Obstetrics and Gynaecology , 56 : 159
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sosa , R. , Kennell , J. , Klaus , M. , Robertson , S. and Urruta , J. 1980 . ‘The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labour and mother-infant interaction’ . New England Journal of Medicine , 303 : 597
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Spira , N. , Andras , F. , Chapel , A. , Debuisson , E. , Jacqueline , J. , Kirchhoffer , C. , Lebrun , C. and Prudent , C. 1981 . ‘Surveillance à domicile des grossesses pathologiques’ . Journal Gynecologie, Obstetriques Biologie et Reproduction , 10 : 543 – 548 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Stanley , F. J. and Hobbs , M. S. T. 1980 . ‘Neonatal mortality and cerebral palsy: the impact of neonatal intensive care’ . Australian Paediatric Journal , 16 : 35 – 39 .
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Thoits , P. 1982 . ‘Conceptual, methodological and theoretical problems in studying social support as a buffer against stress’ . Journal of Health and Social Behaviour , 23 : 145 – 159 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Veiel , H. O. F. 1985 . ‘Dimensions of social support: a conceptual framework for research’ . Social Psychiatry , 20 ( 4 ) : 156 – 162 .
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Wilcox , B. L. 1981 . ‘Social support, life stress and psychological adjustment: a test of the buffering hypothesis’ . American Journal of Psychology , 9 : 371
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• World health Organization . 1986 . Having a Baby in Europe , Copenhagen : European Regional Office .
   Google Scholar
• Wortman , C. B. 1984 . ‘Social support and the cancer patient: conceptual and methodological issues’ . Cancer , 53 : 2239 – 2360 .
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zimmer , E. Z. , Divon , M. , Vilensky , A. , Sarna , Z. , Peretz , B. A. and Paldi , E. 1982 . ‘Maternal exposure to music and fetal activity’ . European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecological and Reproductive Biology , 13 : 209 – 213 .
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar